An appellate sentencing hearing is being held over composer and broadcaster Yoo Jae-hwan's charge of forcible molestation.
On the afternoon of the 16th, the Criminal Appeals Division 3-1 of the Seoul Southern District Court will hold the appellate sentencing hearing for Yoo Jae-hwan, who was indicted on charges of forcible molestation.
Yoo Jae-hwan is accused of forcibly molesting victims he met after posting a message in June 2023 saying he would make songs without receiving composition fees.
The first trial acknowledged guilt and ordered a fine of 5 million won and 40 hours of sexual violence treatment program completion, but both Yoo Jae-hwan and the prosecution appealed the verdict.
At the appellate hearing, the prosecution asked that the original verdict be overturned and that a one-year prison sentence, the same as the sentence sought at the first trial, be imposed.
However, Yoo Jae-hwan's side argued that it is hard to imagine him forcibly molesting a woman he first met in a public place while risking the end of his broadcasting career. Yoo's side emphasized that witness and victim statements conflict, and protested that in the original trial only the victim's testimony was evaluated as highly credible.
In his final statement, Yoo Jae-hwan reportedly said, "I deeply regret this. My employment prospects have suffered because of these circumstances, I am suffering financial hardship, and I have difficulty going out for fear many people will recognize me," and added, "If the victim's testimony becomes consistent evidence, please note that I too have been giving consistent testimony."
Meanwhile, Yoo Jae-hwan debuted in 2008 with "I didn't know pain," participated in Park Myung Soo's "Myungsoo's tteokbokki" in 2014 as a lyricist and featured artist, and after appearing in the "Infinite Challenge" Yeongdong Expressway song festival the following year and gaining recognition, he also appeared on numerous variety shows.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]